A budget is a powerful tool for taking control of—and understanding—your finances. It can help you avoid spending more than you have as well as save for future goals. Once you have a full picture of where your money is going every month, you can look for opportunities to redirect some of it to the areas causing your financial stress.

When money is tight, you may think you don’t have enough to deal with your financial problems. However, it’s important to make the most of the income you do have. Know that small steps add up. You may not be able to cut any one expense by $500 a month, but you may be able to identify five that you can cut by $100 each.

Having money set aside for an emergency—such as car repairs, job loss or illness—can go a long way towards relieving financial anxiety. However, building an emergency fund can seem overwhelming, especially one with enough to cover three to six months of expenses. Don’t get hung up on the amount—what’s important is that you’re consistently setting money aside.

Credit card debt is a common source of financial stress. Not only is it expensive—it can also get in the way of your savings goals. The anxiety antidote: a plan to pay off the debt. If you have balances on multiple cards, consider using the snowball method (paying off your debts one-by-one, focusing on the smallest first) or the high-rate method (concentrating on the cards with the highest interest rates first).

If you’re not satisfied with your progress in reducing debt, you may want to seek help from trusted resources, such as the Federal Trade Commission and the National Foundation for Credit Counseling. Or if you want guidance on long-term goals, such as saving for retirement or college, financial advisors can help. Finally, your friends and family may be able to offer support—just make sure to set clear boundaries and expectations to avoid damaging those relationships.